NOTE: Sections blacked out in the original are
noted by X's,
with number of lines where applicable.

February 2, 1942

MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

With reference to the conference of yesterday held in your office
between representatives of the War Department and the Department of
Justice concerning the evacuation of Japanese from the West Coast area,
I communicated with our several offices upon the Pacific Coast
following this conference, and checked with them as to the various
aspects of this rather intricate and certainly difficult problem.

The following pertinent items have been advanced for consideration in
connection with any mass evacuation of Japanese from the Pacific Coast.
Both pro and con items are considered in an effort to present a broad
picture of the situation.

The necessity for mass evacuation is based primarily upon
public and
political pressure rather than on factual data. Public hysteria and
in
some instances, the comments of the press and radio announcers, have
resulted in a tremendous amount of pressure being brought to bear on
Governor Olson and Earl Warren, Attorney General of the State, and on
the military authorities. It is interesting to observe that little
mention has been made of the mass evacuation of enemy aliens.

It is believed by many that the mass evacuation will be a cure-all and
will eliminate the danger of Japanese espionage and sabotage. It would,
of course, eliminate the possibility of the Japanese physically
committing sabotage on the coast. However, experience has taught that
the Japanese often rely on Occidentals to obtain physically their
information for them. Bureau cases substantiate this.

If only the Japanese aliens are excluded from restricted
areas, the
problem of enforcement becomes extremely difficult. The necessity
for
challenging every Japanese observed within these areas is obvious. Then
there must follow a close interrogation to establish citizenship. There
also remains the fact that a large portion of the aliens have immediate
or close relatives who are citizens and who would have access to the
restricted areas. It is recognized that the second generation Japanese
are, as a whole, more inclined to be loyal to this country than their
alien elders. Irrespective of this, aliens and citizens being in
the
same families would tend to nullify effectiveness of the exclusion
of aliens and not citizens from restricted areas. The advisability of
excluding aliens and not citizens is therefore highly controversial.

In the event of an attempted invasion, an altogether different problem
presents itself. The Japanese as a race, although extremely
law-abiding, are very loyal to their native land. This is attributed
largely to the close relationship between their religion and their
government. The are taught that their emperor has divine rights and
power and that their reward in the hereafter depends upon their service
to him. Although usually law-abiding while under the control of the
Occidental, little doubt remains that they would assist a Japanese
army having apparent local successes. No one can say definitely
what the local Japanese would do during an invasion as it would be a
matter of individual decision.

The possibility of race riots continues to exist. There is a
large Filipino population in California that presents a constant threat
to widespread violence. Stories of Japanese atrocities in the
Philippines, either true or magnified, could quickly bring about a
serious condition in the Sacramento Valley where there are large
Japanese and Filipino populations. This is presently of major concern
in the Hawaiian Islands. The unrest there, as well as in California,
has, however, resulted only in individual assaults. If widespread
conflicts do occur, the Filipinos will be the aggressors.

Naturalized citizens who were, until recently, Axis nationals
present a problem equal to that of the Japanese aliens. Many of the
Japanese aliens would have become citizens, if permitted, either
because of their appreciation of this country or for selfish or
ulterior reasons. The subjects of a great number of our internal
security cases involving Axis powers are naturalized citizens. They
have, in many instances, considered their American citizenship as a
license and a protective cloak instead of a privilege to be
appreciated. Thus their American citizenship is being used to
protect and to facilitate their un-American activities.

The following is the information obtained from the Coastal Offices
which sets out their individual conditions:

Los Angeles

United States census of 1940 lists 93,717 Japanese in the State of
California, 33,569 being aliens. In Los Angeles County, there are
36,866 Japanese of which 13,391 are aliens. Within 15 California
counties covered by the Los Angeles Field Division, there are 18,741
alien Japanese and 33,151 citizens of Japanese ancestry. Because of
their great number, it is impossible to keep any appreciable number
under surveillance so as to prevent espionage and sabotage. The Japanese
Central Association of Los Angeles has twenty member branches in
the Los Angeles Division, almost every branch having a membership
running into several hundreds. The Japanese Central Association has
acted as agents for the Japanese consuls in matters such as recording
births, preparation of business and personal census receiving receiving
money from the Consulate for so doing. The Japanese Central Association
acted as a medium through which collections for the Japanese Army and
Navy were transmitted to Japan. Influence of Japanese Central
Association is extensive and widespread. Except in rare instances, all
alien Japanese belong to some prefectural organization, there being
70 of these groups in the Los Angeles area. The prefectural
organizations are branches of the various prefectures or states in
Japan and are admittedly part of the Japanese overseas expansion
program. These organizations have in the past received a monthly
magazine from the government offices in Tokio and their officers are
elected by local branches receiving certificates notifying them of
their election from the foreign office in Tokio.

Most alien Japanese belong to the Buddhist or Shinto churches. Buddhist
churches here have always been branches of the mother church in Japan.
The priests are appointed with the approval of the Japanese government
and then sent to this country. The Shinto religion is ancestor worship,
the Japanese Emperor being the supreme being. Shinto is a national
religion of Japan. There are 13 Shinto priests in the Los Angeles area,
6,000 Japanese farmers in Southern California, and 2,500 in Los Angeles
County. All of the above groups have close ties to Japan. There
has been a definite non-compliance with the proclamation
relating to travel, firearms and signalling devices on the part of
the above Japanese.

Local officials, press and citizens have started widespread movement demanding
complete evacuation of all Japanese, citizen and alien alike. These
citizens are claiming that the Federal agencies are too lax in this
regard. This movement is gaining great support and in the event
of any sabotage, espionage or any other subversive activity on the part
of the Japanese, the Bureau and the Federal government will be
subjected to great criticism. A reliable informant of Japanese
descent reports that all Japanese nationals entering the United
States in the past few years were required to take an oath to support
the Japanese government. The Kibei group, those
American-born Japanese who received their education in Japan, are
reported to be strongly in favor of Japan. Their monthly publication,
now in the possession of the Los Angeles Office, definitely shows a
strong pro-Japanese tendency. Japanese language schools in the Los
Angeles area have used texts printed in Japan. A set of these texts was
secured by the Los Angeles Office and forwarded to the Bureau show them
to contain articles and illustrations definitely of a propaganda
nature. Language schools number over 100 teachers and almost
without exception are alien Japanese.

Nisei, American-born Japanese, show natural reluctance to act
as informants. The Japanese constitution states anyone born of
Japanese parents is a Japanese. Location of these Japanese, both
citizens and aliens, is near oil fields, ship yards, airplane factories
and national defense factories, which gives them a splendid opportunity
for "fifth column" activity on their part if so inclined.

San Francisco

So long as there is no necessity of evacuating or restricting the
movements of civilians in this area in order to facilitate the movement
of troops, it is not believed that there is a legitimate reason for
the mass evacuation of the Japanese aliens.

Since the outbreak of the war there have been no uprisings
whatsoever among the Japanese and there has been no trouble
between the Japanese and individuals of other nationalities other
than three or four incidents of trouble among the Japanese and
Filipinos immediately following the outbreak of the war. These
incidents concerned only individuals of the two nationalities and
groups were not involved. There has been no evidence of recurring
clashes recently.

All Japanese in northern California, including both citizens and
aliens, are now apparently being controlled, guided and advised by
officials of the Japanese American Citizens' League. Although politically
rotten the League so far as it is known to this office is composed
of a membership who are all citizens of the United States. The
activities of the League would indicate that it is definitely
pro-American.

At the outbreak of the war all individuals who were leaders and
influential in the Japanese colony were apprehended. This caused an
obvious and admitted paralyzing of the Japanese community,
disrupting business, and social and religious life. The Japanese
are at the present time very disorganized and lacking in leadership.
The "Big Five" Japanese firms which were reported to be the most
logical centers of espionage are closed and the officials thereof are
in custody.

In regard to sabotage activities it is not believed that the
Japanese are in a position to do material damage. They are greatly
handicapped in that they are most conspicuous and are not generally
accepted for employment in our vital defense industries.

The travel and obtaining of funds by the Japanese aliens is definitely
curbed and causes a material handicap.

It is true that there have been numerous reports that Japanese are in
possession of firearms, short-wave radios and other contraband;
however, investigation has proved that many of these reports are
unfounded and in some instances only low frequency short-wave radios
have been found. Where firearms were discovered they have turned out to
be either small caliber rifles, shot guns, such as any person might
have in his possession, especially a farmer.

It should also be considered that at the present time the morale of the
Japanese seems to indicate that they feel they have been well
treated by the American people and there are no manifested hard feelings.
It should further be considered that any serious action taken against
the Japanese alien parents will undoubtedly alienate the second
generation Japanese who are American citizens. Even in the most severe
cases of pro-Japanese subjects where they admit that they are Japanese,
they still insist that this is also their country and they would do
nothing to harm it. The almost unanimous attitude is that they desire
to stay in this country and that they feel they are at the mercy of the
United States government.

With respect to the Japanese who are citizens of this country there
have been some entirely unfounded rumors that these Japanese
are assisting aliens in obtaining vital defense information.

In regard to the cooperation of United States citizens of Japanese
ancestry with this office they have without doubt failed to fully
cooperate and have in practically all instances been uncooperative
in furnishing information as to their alien parents. The perfect
example is the case of the highest ranking officers of the Japanese-American
Citizens League. These officers have reputedly stated that they
would cooperate with this office and have tried to impress us of their
full cooperation; however, they have yet to furnish us with any
specific information of value and further, they have never furnished us
with enough information concerning any one subject to open a case.

With regard to moving these individuals from the vital defense areas
such as along the waterfront, it is felt that they should be placed in
the same category as the Japanese aliens.

This office has since the declaration of war attempted to develop
confidential informants, sources of information and contacts among
the Japanese colony in San Francisco through mass contact; example,
by contacting all professional Japanese such as doctors, dentists,
lawyers, barbers, beauty salon operators, pool halls, et cetera. These
individuals were contacted with a view of getting coverage on all
places where Japanese might congregate or frequent and engage in gossip
and general conversation. In this project there was no distinction made
as to whether the individual was alien or citizen. The results of these
contacts have been nil almost without exception. Out of approximately
fifty contacts, only four or five appeared to be cooperative
enough to consider as possible informants. None of these individuals
has yet furnished any information of value.

XXX-2 lines-XXX have repeatedly promised their full
cooperation to this office and have been contacted on numerous
occasions by agents of the Japanese Squad. However, these men have
never furnished any information which would warrant the opening of a
case. XXXXX refused to answer specific questions by stating
that he has disposition to consider and must stay in the favor of
the alien Japanese here. XXXXX present at a meeting of the
Japanese-American Citizens League when XXXXX stated that he had
been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation but that he
had no intention of becoming a "stool-pigeon" for us and that he did
not like the FBI. This matter was never reported by XXXXX.
It should be noted that XXX-1 line-XXX the Japanese-American
Citizens League, an organization composed entirely of United States
citizens, of Japanese ancestry. The younger Japanese depend upon
them for advice and instructions.

As a further example of the attitude of these two men, a meeting XXXXX
stated that the FBI did not know what they were doing, that the Japanese-American
Citizens League knew how to handle "uppity" FBI agents who called
on him for information, and further, that the FBI is getting just
like the Gestapo.

As of further interest the Japanese-American Citizens League has twenty-six
chapters in northern California as well as other chapters in
southern California and in other western states where there is a
concentration of Japanese.

San Diego

It is believed that the mass evacuation of Japanese from the San
Diego area is highly desirable for the following reasons:

All records secured before hostilities and particularly those seized in
apprehension of Japanese aliens reflect extremely ardent
nationalistic tendencies. Contributions to Japanese patriotic and
war funds have been widespread. All Japanese societies have been in
touch from time to time with Japanese Consular officials. Nationalistic
propaganda is inculcated and spread by Japanese schools.
Japanese family ties are extremely close. Practically all Japanese have
relatives in Japan. Their education there has inculcated in them an
ineradicable nationalistic principle. Their loyalty to Japan is
emotional rather than reason. They are tied to the Japanese cause by
blood, family, education, language, and in many instances religion. It
has been impossible for them to merge with our citizens and naturally
there exists an elemental bitterness on this account. A number of
them have had military training in Japan. Some of them hold reserve
commissions. Socially they have nothing to hope for in this country.
The presence of individuals so constituted in close proximity to the
coast and adjacent to most important military and naval establishments
must necessarily constitute a menace. Under these circumstances
it is practically impossible to keep information as to troop and ship
movements from them. There are a number of locations in and around San
Diego and along the coast where ship movements are plainly visible to
large numbers of inhabitants.

With regard to evacuation of citizens from restricted areas the same
general situation in slightly modified form exists. These Japanese,
too, have strong family ties. Some of them, owing to representations of
their parents or otherwise, possess dual citizenship. Some of
these have deferment from Japanese military service, thus acknowledging
Japanese allegiance. A number of them have been sent abroad for
several years of education which must have been highly nationalistic
in character. The vast majority have relatives and social ties in Japan.

About the strongest reason, however, is that which considers the
protection of the Japanese themselves, including citizens. The
sentiment on the
coast is strong and is growing stronger. It only
requires a little foresight to realize that at the first bomb dropped
or shell fired, the coast will immediately develop an anti-Japanese
feeling of hysteria which it would be practically impossible to
suppress. It would be too late then to take effective protective
measures. In the event steps along these lines were taken, arrangements
should be made in exceptional cases where individual Japanese have
acted as informants and have been of value to the Bureau. [PHOTO:
"Strawberry truck farmer who came to the United States from Japan in
1902 and who now owns his own farm. He has six American born children,
with one son serving in the United States Army at Camp Robinson. He
says, 'If bad Jap do something, I know evacuation is protection.'"
(Florin, Calif., 05/11/1942)]

Portland

One hundred and sixty-five Japanese aliens living in Hood River County
adjacent to and in the near vicinity of Bonneville Dam, which
is the most important source of power in the state of Oregon.
Twenty-five Japanese aliens are living in or near Astoria, Oregon,
where vital and the only naval base at Tonkue Point is located.

Practically all of the Japanese aliens in Oregon live in the coast area
or near Portland with the exception of Hood River mentioned above. A
majority of Japanese aliens in Oregon live near Portland where
practically all of the defense producing companies and agencies
are located. There are approximately about 60 Japanese aliens living
within two miles of the Army Airport at Portland.

Seattle

The following reasons are advanced as to why all Japanese
individuals should be evacuated from any restricted areas now
existing or contemplated.

1. In the Seattle Field Division, there are in excess of 5,000
Japanese aliens who, under no circumstances, can become American
citizens. Many of these individuals have families residing in Japan.

2. Dual citizenship on the part of American-born Japanese
couples with the fact that they are not assimilated with the white
American creates a sincere doubt as to whether they can be regarded as
true Americans. It is estimated that there are some 10,000 to
12,000 of such individuals in the state of Washington.

3. Japanese individuals either alien or American, do not volunteer
information. It is believed that since December 7th, at best, there
have been less than 10 Japanese individuals who called at the Seattle
Field Office for the purpose of offering information.

4. Their presence creates brief concern among those charged with the
protection of critical facilities and their presence in any critical
area has required the presence of additional armed forces or guards.

5. Most recently the President of the Japanese League, Seattle,
Washington, offered and suggested to an army official that the
American-born Japanese would take into protective custody the aliens
and would guarantee them. This was later retracted for the reason it
would indicate that the Japanese worked as a homogeneous unit
which is believed to be true.

6. In the event of parachute invasion, the existence of large
numbers of Japanese individuals, regardless of their citizenship, would
make it almost impossible to ferret out a Japanese parachute trooper
who could readily mix with the local Japanese population.

7. The Japanese as individuals in the Seattle area have long sponsored Japanese
language schools and through their various associations and
churches have constantly kept the country of Japan before all types of
Japanese individuals. In this connection it is estimated that not more
than 65% of all Japanese individuals in this area are Christians.
The balance almost entirely are Buddhists, a typical Oriental religion.

8. The organizations with which Japanese are affiliated are all
typically racial in character and no known white persons are known
to be members of any Japanese organizations of any description,
which further reflects that they have not and cannot be assimilated and
that they are closely bound together by racial ties.

9. The state of Washington has many critical areas, among which the
more prominent lie in the Puget Sound area, which is one of the
outstanding harbors on the West Coast. In the Puget Sound area, large
numbers of army and naval installations are located, which include
air fields, a navy yard, naval air station, district offices of Coast
Guard, and many industrial plants, such as a Boeing Aircraft Factory,
six shipyards, railroad terminals, army warehouses, and debarkation
centers. The Pacific Coast area of the state of Washington is
vulnerable because it is thinly settled. Inland lie many outstanding
power developments, such as the Coulee Dam and the Bonneville
Dam Projects and numerous others on various streams within the
State of Washington, and communication is highly vulnerable because of
the existence of tunnels for railroads in the Cascade Mountain Range
and the necessity for super-bridges to cross the Columbia River. In
winter months, the Cascade Mountain passes, with one exception, are
usually blocked. This information is furnished with the thought that it
indicates the extreme vulnerability of the defense effort
because of the highly concentrated critical installations.

There are no suspected espionage agents in the present Japanese
population not incarcerated and there have been no sabotage cases
which have been indicated to be perpetrated by Japanese individuals.
Yet the Japanese individuals are highly concentrated at Seattle,
Washington, where most of the vital industries are centered and at
which point most of the communications lines to the East converge, making
sabotage and espionage most possible events.

10. The use of Japanese language in speaking, printing, and in
writing makes it most difficult for the proper handling of such
individuals for the reason that reliable interpreters and translators
from a practical standpoint are most difficult to obtain and use during
the inquiry concerning the activities of Japanese individuals. The
length of time that it takes to interpret and translate in connection
with Japanese investigations causes a great delay which in itself can
be dangerous. There has been indicated race rioting for the reason that
American white persons do not desire particularly at the
present time to work with or hear Japanese individuals. The
railroads within the state of Washington have in their employ a large
number of Japanese and this is also true of logging and saw mill
industries and in some unions, such as the saw mill and lumber workers,
and in the railroad units there have been constant threats to
discontinue work unless the Japanese are removed from their positions.

As related at the outset of this memorandum, both pro and con items
have been included so as to reflect a rather broad view of the
conditions as they exist on the West Coast.